Down Memory Lane

Fond memories: DESPITE the fact that the photograph is now 58 years old, Gazette reader Martha Dyer has named several people in our recent Down Memory Lane snap of the Carluke High School pupils and teachers who had stopped off at Westminster Abbey after a holiday in Belgium. Martha, whose maiden name was Baxter, has fond memories of the trip to Blankenberg in 1953 when she was just 13 years old. “The holiday was great,” she said. “I think we were the first school from this area which ever went abroad together. “The pupils got on really well with the teachers and we were down at the beach every day.” The photo we published in our July 28 edition, taken in the Houses of Parliament, had been arranged by this area’s MP of the day, the Tory Patrick Maitland who was standing in the middle of the back row. Martha (front, fourth left) managed to identify several other people, including front (from left) art teacher Miss Jean McDonald, PE teacher Miss Stoddart, pupils Janet Bryce, Margaret Cook, Stuart Pirrie, Martha Baxter, Janette Barclay, Agnes Crossan, Abigail Yule, Pearl Thomson, Helen Waye, Andrew Duncan, Gladys Mortimer, Ena Sommerville, John Nicol, Henry Grieve, Forrest Thomson, Jean Cathro and Ella Reid; back (from left) pupils Annie Kirkland and Linda Hamilton, PE teacher Hugh Scott (trip organiser), and pupils Sandra Peat, Jim Thomson, Annie Weir and John Lane.

50 YEARS AGO

n Two Carluke men were each fined £10 at Lanark Police Court for assaulting three dance hall attendants at the Memorial Hall the previous Saturday.

n Livingstone School of Dance pupil eight-year-old Agnes Stewart won a silver medal in the Highland Fling at the Cowal Highland Games. Another local dancer Christina Odger won a bronze medal.

n Mr William Sharp was elected President of the Lanarkshire Association of Burns Clubs. Its AGM was to be held in the Commercial Hotel in Carluke.

n The Government gave permission for the new £42,000 Lanark swimming pool to be built. It was announced by Bailie John Whyte at a special meeting of the Town Council.

nCarluke Young Farmers Club entertained nine members of the Mid Argyll Club with a barn dance. Music on the night was provided by Sneddons Band.

nMiss Bridget Leigh, a grand-daughter of Lord Lamington was to present the Silver Bell to the winning owner at the Lanark race meet.

100 YEARS AGO

n The Menzies Cup, donated by local MP Sir William Menzies, to the winners of the Lanarkshire football league was to be put on display at Mr James Graham’s shop in Lanark High Street.

n A man who was found guilty of being drunk and incapable at Lanark Sheriff Court asked for time to pay his 10s fine. Provost Forrest retorted: “No tick here.”

n There was a feature in the Gazette about the number of Lanarkians who had recently started new lives in Canada. It also published the names and addresses of the people so that those back home could write to them.

n The annual exhibition of the Upperward Horticultural Association saw Carstairs gardener John Shields win 10 firsts in a variety of different categories.

n Carluke held its 60th annual flower show held in the Town Hall. A full list of prizewinners were featured in the Gazette.

n Carluke miners at the Hyndshaw Colliery decided to strike in regards to the low tonnage return and pay. Negotiations had been going on for several weeks.